The oldest water on earth has been found in Canada. Scientists from the University of Toronto discovered a two-billion-year-old oasis in a mine. Three years ago, pools of 1.5 billion-year-old water was found in the Kid Creek Mine. It prompted scientists to dig deeper, and after drilling down 1.5 miles, they found the older water, and a whole new world of study was opened up.

“Everything about the water is brand new,” says geochemist Oliver Warr. The prehistoric stream is part of an interconnected fluid system in the earth, one that could give insight as to what life was like two billion years ago, and what microbes could still be living in the water.

“This continues to open up our ideas about how much of this planet is habitable,” team co-leader Barbara Sherwood Lollar said. It also gives scientists an idea of how habitable Mars may be, since it has similar water pockets.

Even so, scientists wouldn’t suggest we utilize pre-historic water for drinking. With eight times the salt of seawater, Warr assures, “It would taste absolutely disgusting.”